Andy Beshear Podcast – Episode 27

Guest: Steve Kerr, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Gen Z Lingo with Will
Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This wide-ranging episode features NBA legend and championship coach Steve Kerr discussing leadership, activism, and the American dream. Andy Beshear and his panel then shift to pressing national issues: the government shutdown, potential National Guard deployments to Illinois, rising tariffs, and the broader state of political division. They close with a fun Gen Z slang segment. The prevailing themes are unity, nonpartisan solutions, and the challenges of contemporary leadership against the backdrop of political polarization.

1. Steve Kerr: Leadership, Social Advocacy, and the American Dream

(01:10 – 25:23)

Coaching Team USA & Leadership Philosophy

• Kerr describes coaching Team USA as almost a dream:
  • "You're coaching the best players on earth. Just get out of their way, make sure they have all the space they need. But it was an incredible experience..." (03:01) – Steve Kerr
• Balancing Alpha personalities:
  • Addressed player roles and minutes from day one; focus on team over individual egos. (03:37)
  • “We talked about it with the group. Every night there’s going to be a couple guys who don’t play, but we’re going to need everyone.” (03:55) – Steve Kerr

Learning from Legends

• Impact as a Role Player:
  • Not a starter, saw team dynamics from the inside, learned the importance of collaboration—between players, coaches, and management (04:58).
• Influence of Phil Jackson, Greg Popovich, and others:
  • "I think we are all basically products of our environment... picked up not only a lot of basketball knowledge from those coaches, but you know, the insights on culture and how to connect groups." (06:15) – Steve Kerr
  • Authenticity and culture are keys: Phil and Pop were both “very authentic”, and Kerr strives for the same (06:15 – 07:22).

Instant Success with Golden State

• Inherited a talented roster, but focused on team culture and connectivity:
  • "So much of coaching in the NBA is about your roster... What I could help bring out of the guys was what I focused on." (07:47) – Steve Kerr
• Sustaining a Dynasty:
  • Steph Curry’s character drew great teammates. Collaboration between players, management, ownership.
  • “The fact that Steph Curry is who he is made a lot of players want to come play with him.” (09:17) – Steve Kerr

Athlete Activism and Social Media

• Why Kerr is outspoken – especially on gun violence:
  • Influenced by Greg Popovich; personal history (father killed by gun violence) compels activism.
  • "We clearly need common sense, gun safety rules in our country, and I decided to start speaking up on that topic." (10:33) – Steve Kerr
• Handling ‘Shut up & Dribble’ backlash:
  • “Shut up and dribble, I think, is particularly insulting...It implies they’re not smart or smart enough to have a take on society...” (12:01) – Steve Kerr
• Advice on Social Media:
  • Don’t read the comments — both host and Kerr agree.
  • Kerr eliminated social media from his life for mental health, shares research with young players, but ultimately lets them make their own decisions (13:17–14:15).

American Division & Leadership Metaphors

• Political division and polarization:
  • Kerr: “I wish we could find a way to unify this country because we have a lot more in common than not.” (14:31)
  • Both agree foundational issues—family, safety, economic opportunity—are nonpartisan and widely shared, but political actors exploit division (15:08–16:46).
• American dream slipping:
  • “The opportunities, the economy, the housing market, it’s just dramatic in terms of how much less opportunity there is out there for this young generation.” (15:30) – Steve Kerr
• If Congress got a practice court...
  • Kerr: “If a sports team were run by…one of these extremist politicians...he would literally tell half the team, hey, you guys suck…That team’s going to lose all the time.” (19:17)
• Optimism in state/local governance:
  • Beshear: Shares bipartisan approval in Kentucky by focusing on “the things that aren’t political…creating new jobs, expanding healthcare, making roads and bridges safer.” (20:46)

Personal Reflections:

• Kerr's "secret superpower"? “I think I’m a good dad.” (22:31)
• Warm stories about Kentucky alums Bam Adebayo and Devin Booker, highlighting their character and humility (23:04–24:50).
• The famous Bulls shot:
  • Kerr jokes, “We just keep it on loop actually at the house every day.” (04:33)
  • “I’m pretty sure Michael Jordan has the ball." (24:58)

2. Roundtable: Current Events and Legal Analysis

(26:27 – 38:38)

Government Shutdown & Healthcare (Day 2)

(26:27 – 32:29)

• Why the shutdown?
  • Standoff over Affordable Care Act subsidies—without renewal, premiums may double, especially in rural areas (28:08–29:29).
  • Impact: federal employees furloughed, facing job insecurity and lack of communication (29:29–30:22).
• Politicization of pain:
  • Beshear: ”So the furlough happens because of the shutdown... the potential firings haven’t occurred during any other shutdown. This is an intentional decision by the Trump administration...” (30:14–30:49)
  • Disapproval over targeting civil servants for political gain.

DOJ Independence and Comey Indictment

(31:11 – 32:40)

• Panel discusses concerns over using DOJ for political vendettas.
• Worries about erosion of norms: “We have never seen a president outwardly and directly pressure for the indictment of a political opponent.” (32:29) – Andy Beshear

Military & National Guard: Political Overreach

(32:57 – 36:01)

• Alleged plans to deploy military in US cities, spectacle at Pentagon:
  • “It was surreal.” (33:30)
  • Generals summoned to a political pep rally, pressured to applaud, but remained professional and stoic.
  • Beshear: “We do not use our military on US Citizens... he’s talking about the enemy within when he’s talking about people who disagree with him politically. ... it violates just about every tenet of what America is." (35:12)

3. Tariffs and the American Dream

(36:01 – 38:38)

• “Tariffs of Terrorists” running joke—new round of tariffs, now product-specific: kitchen cabinets, upholstery, lumber, even pharmaceuticals (36:01–37:27).
• Economic anxiety:
  • Young Americans increasingly unable to afford first homes or essentials, compounding generational frustrations with the American dream (37:43).
• Unanimity:
  • “If you know one thing about this podcast, you know we are against tariffs.” (38:38) – Andy Beshear

4. Legal Spotlight: Illinois AG Kwame Raoul

(38:38 – 49:00)

Legality of National Guard Federalization

(39:20 – 44:39)

• President threatens to send National Guard/military to Chicago.

  • Raoul reviews law:
    • Only allowed in cases of foreign invasion, rebellion, or inability to enforce federal law (Posse Comitatus Act).
    • None of those criteria are met in Chicago.
  • “We don’t have a rebellion... There are people who are peacefully protesting, but there’s nothing that cannot be handled by local law enforcement.” (41:28) – Kwame Raoul

• Prepared for legal challenge if federal troops are dispatched:

  • Highlight: “We are prepared to file a lawsuit to prevent that type of mobilization.” (43:54)

Lawsuit Over FEMA Funding Conditions

(44:39–47:49)

• Trump administration puts conditions on federal disaster funds, requiring states to align with the president’s immigration priorities.
• Raoul: This is unconstitutional—violates Congressional appropriations and is too vague (47:01).
• Ongoing legal victories, commitment to separation of powers:
  • “We filed over 40 lawsuits where the President and his administration are blatantly disregarding our Constitution and federal law.” (47:49)

5. Gen Z Lingo with Will

(50:39 – 53:39)

• Fun segment on contemporary slang:
  • Will introduces "sus" (short for suspicious or suspect), used in a humorous way (51:39–51:50).
  • Banter about “Dude Perfect” allegedly copying their Gen Z Lingo segment—playful rivalry.
• Notable exchange:
  • Will: “The way that John lives is a little bit sus.” (52:43)
  • Most cringeworthy word for Gen Z: “Slay. 100%... when you and mom were like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so slay,’ ... that was definitely the nails on the chalkboard.” (53:25)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On balancing NBA superstars:

  • “We talked about it with the group. ...We’re going to need everyone.” (03:55) – Steve Kerr

• On political division:

  • Kerr: “If a sports team were run by, you know, one of these extremist politicians...That team’s going to lose all the time.” (19:17)

• On the American dream:

  • “Being able to buy especially your first home as a young couple is such a part of that...many young people today think they’ll never be able to achieve the success the last generation did.” (37:43) – Andy Beshear

• On National Guard deployments:

  • “We don’t have a rebellion... There’s nothing that cannot be handled by local law enforcement.” (41:29) – Kwame Raoul

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10 – Introduction of Steve Kerr / Kerr on Olympic coaching
• 10:33 – Athlete activism and Kerr on gun violence
• 14:31 – American political division & values
• 19:17 – “If Congress was a team” metaphor
• 20:46 – Beshear’s bipartisan leadership philosophy
• 26:27 – Roundtable: Government shutdown’s impact
• 32:29 – DOJ: Concerns over politicized indictments
• 33:30 – Generals summoned to DC & militarization concerns
• 36:01 – New tariffs and effect on American families
• 38:38 – Legal interview: AG Kwame Raoul on National Guard deployment
• 50:39 – Gen Z Lingo with Will ("sus" and "slay")

Tone and Style

The episode blends warm, sincere reflections (especially from Kerr and Beshear) with detailed analysis of contemporary political and policy dilemmas, using candid language and approachable humor. The overall mood is constructive but vigilant—recognizing challenges, emphasizing empathy, and often turning objections into teachable, human moments.

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